ROME, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Italian Serie A strugglers Cagliari fired coach Gianfranco Zola on Monday due to the club's poor results the season.
"Cagliari announces the dismissal of Gianfranco Zola and his staff from the first team," said a statement by the Sardinia-based club, which has fallen into danger of relegation from Italy's top flight.
Zola took over from Zdenek Zeman before Christmas, but the former Chelsea forward just saw his side lose six of the 10 games along two wins and two draws under his steering.
Cagliari could now call back Zeman for the remainder of the season as they bid to beat the drop.
"The decision was not an easy one given the greatness of a man who has written unforgettable pages in the history of Cagliari and who has represented Sardinia with prestige on the international stage," added the statement, paying tribute to Zola, who Zola is still considered one of the island's best footballing exports despite having only played for Cagliari after his more famous seven-year spell with Premier League giants Chelsea.
Cagliari are currently third from bottom, four points shy of Atalanta.